Autism Is Not What We Thought It Was
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For decades, society misunderstood difference and labeled it as deficiency.
If you grew up in the 70s, 80s, or even the 90s, you probably heard certain words used casually, medically, and cruelly to describe people who were different. Those words were once socially accepted. They shouldn’t have been. And their widespread use says far more about our lack of understanding than it ever did about the people they were used against.
Today, we know better. And it’s time our language and our thinking caught up.
What Autism Actually Is
Autism, clinically referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental difference. It describes how a brain processes information, communicates, experiences sensory input, and interprets the world.
Autism is not a disease, it is not an illness, and it is not something to be cured. It is a spectrum, meaning it shows up differently in different people. Some autistic individuals need daily support. Others live independently, work high-level jobs, raise families, and lead communities. Many fall somewhere in between.
Autism can involve differences in communication, social interaction, sensory sensitivity, and behavior patterns. It can also come with remarkable strengths like deep focus, creativity, pattern recognition, honesty, and innovation. Autism is not about intelligence. It is about wiring.
Why the Old Language Was Wrong
The “R-word” came from outdated medical thinking that tried to group many different neurological and developmental differences into one vague category. Over time, it became a shortcut people used to judge, dismiss, and dehumanize.
What it attempted to describe is now properly understood as intellectual disability, which is a separate and distinct diagnosis involving significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive skills.
Here’s the distinction that was missed for generations:
* A person can be autistic without having an intellectual disability
* A person can have an intellectual disability without being autistic
* Some people have both, and many do not
The old language collapsed complexity into insult. Modern understanding restores accuracy and dignity.
There Is No “Autistic Look” This myth refuses to die, so let’s be clear. There is no shared facial structure, physical trait, or appearance that defines autism. Autistic people do not “look autistic.”
That misconception usually comes from confusing autism with certain genetic or chromosomal conditions that can involve distinctive physical features. Autism does not.
Autistic people exist across every race, culture, body type, and background. The differences are neurological, not visual. What people sometimes notice instead are behavioral traits such as reduced eye contact, different facial expressions, or repetitive movements. These are not flaws. They are regulation tools. They are ways of navigating a world that can be loud, fast, and overwhelming.
Neurodivergent Does Not Mean One Thing Autism falls under the broader concept of neurodivergence, which simply means a brain that functions differently from what society considers typical.
Neurodivergence includes
* ADHD dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s, and more. Each is different. None come with a universal appearance. None define a person’s worth. Difference is not deficit.
Why This Matters Now Language shapes policy, policy shapes opportunity, and opportunity shapes lives. When we use outdated words or cling to false assumptions, we don’t just mislabel people. We limit them. We limit what teachers expect, what employers consider possible, and what society is willing to invest in.
Understanding autism correctly allows for better education, better workplaces, better healthcare, and better human connection. It moves us from fear to curiosity, and from judgment to respect.
Autistic people don’t need to be fixed. They need to be understood.
Thanks for reading,
William Rochelle, but you can call me Bill.
#Autism #Neurodiversity #LanguageMatters #Inclusion #HumanDignity #LearningBetter #YouBeYouLive
